Tremella dysenterica

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Tremella dysenterica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Tremellomycetes
Order: Tremellales
Family: Tremellaceae
Genus: Tremella
Species:
T. dysenterica
Binomial name
Tremella dysenterica
Möller (1895)

Tremella dysenterica is a species of fungus in the family Tremellaceae. It produces bright yellow, red-spotted, lobed to subfrondose, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies) and is parasitic on other fungi on dead branches of broad-leaved trees. It was originally described from Brazil and has been recorded elsewhere in the neotropics and in Africa.

Taxonomy

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Tremella dysenterica was first published in 1895 by German mycologist Alfred Möller based on a collection made in Brazil.[1]

Description

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Fruit bodies are gelatinous, bright watery-yellow to deep yellow with orange to scarlet spots and streaks, up to 4 cm (1.5 in) across, and lobed to weakly frondose. Microscopically, the basidia are tremelloid (ellipsoid, with oblique to vertical septa), 4-celled, 14 to 18 by 8 to 12 μm. The basidiospores are ellipsoid, smooth, 5.5 to 8.5 by 4 to 5.5 μm.[2]

Similar species

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Tremella rubromaculata, described from Guatemala without reference to T. dysenterica, appears macroscopically very similar but differs microscopically in having larger basidiospores (8 to 10.5 by 6 to 8 μm) and basidia.[3]

Habitat and distribution

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Tremella dysenterica is a parasite on lignicolous fungi, but its host species is unknown, though collections have been noted on pyrenomycetes.[4] It is found on dead, attached or fallen branches of broad-leaved trees.

The species is currently known from Brazil,[1][2] Belize,[4] and Cameroon.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bandoni RJ, Oberwinkler F (1983). "On some species of Tremella described by Alfred Möller". Mycologia. 75 (5): 854–863. doi:10.2307/3792776. JSTOR 3792776.
  2. ^ a b Roberts P, de Meijer AAR. (1997). "Macromycetes from the state of Paraná, Brazil. 6. Sirobasidiaceae & Tremellaceae". Mycotaxon. 64: 261–283.
  3. ^ Lowy B. (1971). Flora Neotropica 6: Tremellales. New York: Hafner. ISBN 0-89327-220-5.
  4. ^ a b Roberts P. (2008). "Heterobasidiomycetes from Belize". Kew Bulletin. 63 (1): 87–99. doi:10.1007/s12225-007-9006-6. JSTOR 20443411.
  5. ^ Roberts P. (2001). "Heterobasidiomycetes from Korup National Park, Cameroon". Kew Bulletin. 56 (1): 163–187. doi:10.2307/4119434. JSTOR 4119434.